Crennel, Pioli: Cassel can expect competition for Chiefs QB job

Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli said Thursday that they want Matt Cassel to face some competition for the starting quarterback job.

"What happens in free agency remains to be seen," Crennel said, the Kansas City Star reported. "I know competition makes everybody better, and weâll just have to see what kind of competition weâre going to have at the quarterback position."

Pioli was even more blunt. "Weâve been saying it for three years, and Iâm going to continue to say it, because itâs a core part of our philosophy: There will be increased competition at every position, including the quarterback position," the GM said. "Who that is, I donât know. Maybe itâs Kyle (Orton), maybe itâs another free agent, maybe itâs a draft choice, I donât know.

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"Very few people can perform at an extremely high level without competition."

Right now only Cassel and Ricky Stanzi are under contract for next season.

Kyle Orton was Kansas City's starter when the Chiefs won two of their last three games. Orton will be an unrestricted free agent.

"Kyle did a good job in those three games, and you canât take that away," Crennel said. "I wouldnât be sitting here if he didnât do the job he did."

The coach also mentioned that he has interviewed quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders for the vacant offensive coordinatorâs job, adding that he might interview another candidate or two.